Water Damage and Your Insurance Policy – 2

Hello and welcome back to the Disaster Response’ blog! Lately, we have been discussing all of the ins and outs of water damage, including common myths, how to avoid water damage in your home and in your business, as well as what your insurance policy actually covers. It’s easy to assume that when your policy says it covers water damage that any and every damage caused by wayward H20 is covered. Unfortunately, this is false to assume. If you have the usual water damage policy, then there are certain damages that are covered. However, if you invested in a cheaper policy, then you may want to review your policy once again.

Types of Water Damage Covered

Because we already covered this in our previous blog post, we are not going to go into all the details regarding the types of water damage that are normally covered on your insurance policy. However, here is a brief list:

• Damage caused by the weight of snow, ice, and sleet. The water damage that these weather elements can cause can include a collapsed roof and other related damages.
• The destructive effects of water that has overflowed.
• That which occurs due to a hot water heater ripping, cracking, burning, or becoming misshapen.
• Water damage caused by frozen pipes.

These are the types of damages usually covered. However, here are the various types of water damages that could occur in your home:

• Sudden or accidental discharge
• Sewer backup or water backup
• Overflow of your tub, sink, toilet, etc.
• Flooding
• Storm-related damage

As you can see, there are certain items that are exclusive to each list. Below are the types of insurance that are not normally covered by your insurance policy.

Types of Water Damage Not Covered

Damage Due to Maintenance Issues

When it comes to most types of insurance, if you don’t do your part to maintain your home and resolve maintenance issues, then you will be liable to pay for them. For example, if you have a plumbing issue in your kitchen, such as a dripping sink, and you don’t fix it before it creates massive damage, then your insurance company will not pay for the repairs. However, if your dishwasher suddenly floods your kitchen, then your policy will normally cover it.

Fixing the Source of the Water Damage

Most homeowners’ policies will not cover replacing or repairing the source or the element that caused the water damage. Going back to the above example, the insurance company would not pay for you to replace or fix your dishwasher. They would, however, pay for the damage caused byyour dishwasher.

Damage Due to Outer Water BackUp

If you happen to be one of those unfortunate souls who experiences a drain or the sewer backing up into your home, you will have to pay for the damages. Some policies do provide this type of coverage. However it is always best to check your policy. If this type of possible damage is a concern, you can purchase sewer or water backup coverage.

Flooding

No weather-related flooding of any kind is covered by homeowners insurance. It doesn’t matter what the source of the flooding is. If you have a concern about flooding or live near a natural body of water or in an area known for flooding, it is best to add flood coverage to your policy. To make sure you have the coverage you need, learn more about the floodplain of your area.

Water damage can occur due to a variety of elements, and when it comes to making sure that you have the coverage that you need, it is best to know your policy inside and out and to read the fine print. To make sure that you fully understand what is truly covered by your policy, meet with your insurance agent.

Dealing With the Aftermath of Water Damage?

If you are in the midst of a disaster and trying to understand your insurance policy and the claims process in general, Disaster Response can help. Not only do we offer water damage restoration that can give you peace of mind and completely fix the damages, but we can guide you through the claims process. We understand that, when disaster strikes, you have a lot on your mind and many aspects of the situation are stressful. We truly care about our West Michigan neighbors and want to you to know that you are not alone in this time. Visit our website to learn more about our services, our WatchDog program, and contact us. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week!    

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